The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-22
WOMEN WHO WANT TO VOTE
Funny Scenes at the Annual Meeting of
the New York Suffrage Association.
Vigorous Protest Against One Woman Power
and Charge of One Dollar for Admission
to the Executive Session of the Body.
Special to the Indianapolis journal.

Special to the Indianapolis journal.
NEW YORK, April 2l.-The eighteenth annual
convention of the New York State Woman
Suffrage Association opened to-day at Masonic
Temple and will continue tomorrow. The
most important business to be considered is,
probably, the future relations of the association
to the leading political parties. both Of which.
they claim, anxious to conci late them. There
is general feeling in fa.or of such action, but
Mrs. Lille Devereaux Blake, the present presi-
dent, believed it to be to the advantage Of the
movement to continue its independent attitude.
The principal feature of tod Ays meeting, after
the routine work OF credentials, etc., was the
afternoon discussion of the election of officers
for the ensuing year. The association is COM
posed of delegates from each county of the
State, headed by the local vice presidents.
This morning reporter called at Masonic
Temple, where business was to begin at 10
o'clock. He expected to see the large hall filled
to overfowing with an enthusiastic throng.
Instead there were only about bakers dozen.
Evidently something was the. matter. Signs of
discord were visible. Appr oaching o group of
ladies who were in earnest discussion, the re-
porter ventured the remark that the meeting
would, in all probability, be an interesting one.
Said one of the party: Yes. we have had about
enough of this one woman power. The associa-
tion has been for years in the interest of its
president, Lille Devereaux Blake, and now it is
proposed to break the ring"
Another lady at this moment approached, and
proved to be Mrs. Leonard. mother of Lillian
RUSSELL the actress Said she: when l was
in Albany, last fall, visiting my daughter, and
speaking to one of the State Senators of
our movement, he said there were only seven
women in the State of New York who desired
woman suffrage. This is the result of the public
regarding the movement as a mere clique The
faces of those in authority have been so familiar
that those TO whom they appeal consider that
there are only small number connected with
the association"
Mrs. Blake was sought out by the reporters
for an explanation She ecared that the great
harmony exists in fhe association. The
officers, she claims, have rnuch to do and ought
to be selected from those best fitted for the work
The election Of officers will take place to-mor-
row.
AS the reporter was le aving the hall he en-
countered Mrs. Twitchel, the leader of the op-
position to Mrs. Blake This lady is for war to
the knife She says the way the association IS
managed is outrageous. She is representative
of the Brooklyn committee, and is entitled to a
seat. but before she got her privileges she is
obliged to pay one dollar. As she spoke, a lady
1p and said, 1--WE are about to go into
executive session. Come in and pay your dollar. !"
Mrs. Twitchell said: DO you hear thatl
have been member of a good many organiza-
tlons and this is the first time ever saw a par
liamentary body go into executive session before
the general convention bad been opened But
that IS just the way this tning is conducted; no
bylaws; no constitution, no system. You may
expect 10 see an indig nation meeting if this
thing continues much loiagerp
Mrs. Leonard then came rushing from the
little corner room. crying, Come all of you!
There is the place for action! We can do moth
ing here!'
The gro, p of ladies VII o had gathered around
the reporter filed into tho room to ioin issues
with Mrs Blake and her forces.
The meeting, late this afternoon was open to
the puolic. Rev. Amanda Deyo opening il with
services. Mrs. Blake delivered the opening ad-
dress. followed by Miss B miy Beckwitn and MIR.
August B. Ryder. DR.. E'mily B. Ryder recount.
ed her experience as to how she tried to GET
something to eat at several of the we,l-known
restaurants after nightfaI H. and was refused be.
cause she was a woman. The speakers for the
evening were Miss Nsyman, Mary Seymour
Howell, Kate Palmer Sn.arns and r. d. Owen.